Tonsillitis: Symptoms, Pains and causes

 

 

Tonsillitis is a condition that occurs when your tonsils become infected. It can be caused by both bacterial and viral infections.

Tonsillitis is defined as an inflammation of the tonsils due to bacterial or viral infection. The primary function of the tonsils is to filter out germs and protect the body against various pathogens.

But sometimes the holes in the tonsils can get blocked due to buildup of food debris and germs. This eventually leads to the tonsils being prone to various infections resulting in inflammation and pain. Recurrent or chronic tonsillitis can interfere with the day-to-day of well-being.

 

Symptoms

Tonsillitis most commonly affects children between preschool ages and the mid-teenage years.

Common signs and symptoms of tonsillitis include:

§  Red, swollen tonsils

§  White or yellow coating or patches on the tonsils

§  Sore throat

§  Difficult or painful swallowing

§  Fever

§  Enlarged, tender glands (lymph nodes) in the neck

§  A scratchy, muffled or throaty voice

§  Bad breath

§  Stomachache

§  Neck pain or stiff neck

§  Headache

In young children who are unable to describe how they feel, signs of tonsillitis may include:

§  Drooling due to difficult or painful swallowing

§  Refusal to eat

§  Unusual fussiness

Viral infections that cause tonsillitis pass on their own. Bacterial infections may require antibiotics.

Treatment may also focus on relieving the symptoms of tonsillitis, such as using NSAIDs like ibuprofen to relieve inflammation and pain.

There are a number of home remedies that can effectively treat or reduce the symptoms of tonsillitis.

Read: Symptoms, Pictures, Causes, Prevention and Treatment of Tonsillitis

Sometimes Tonsillitis Can Cause White Spots to Appear on the Tonsils

“If you look at someone’s tonsils closely, they will have these little crypts [and crevices] in them. 

What can build up is old dead skin and bacteria,” explains James Clark, MBBCh, an in
structor of otolaryngology at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore.

When food, bacteria, or other debris get trapped in the crevices, they harden and calcify into tonsil stones.

You can get tonsil stones without having tonsillitis — in fact, many people get tonsil stones very frequently. And usually tonsil stones are harmless, but in some rare cases, they can cause tonsillitis.

And that’s why you may notice those white spots and patches if you have tonsillitis.

“You can have tonsillitis without actually having the presence of the stones and vice versa,” Dr. Clark says. Sometimes the retained food and debris lead to chronic halitosis (bad breath), he adds. The stones typically fall out by themselves, though some people scrape them out using a cotton swab, Clark says.

When a person has a tonsil infection and there are stones, the stones are more likely to secrete pus, since that is part of the result of the tonsils swelling, according to Clark. You’ll get an accumulation of the dead immune cells that participated in fighting the infection.

 

Tonsillitis Usually Does Cause Some Pain or Irritation, Particularly in the Throat

Although everyone experiences pain differently, in almost all cases tonsillitis causes throat pain or irritation, such as a sore throat, difficult or painful swallowing, enlarged glands in the neck, and a scratchy voice (where you may feel more strain than usual to talk).

Some people also experience headaches, stomachaches, or a stiff neck as a result of tonsillitis. It’s worth noting the possibility that someone may carry the bacteria that causes strep throat (and therefore test positive by a strep test) but may not actually be infected with the bacteria nor experience pain or other symptoms, Clark says. 

“They have strep within the tonsil tissue — but it’s not actively causing an infection; it’s just living there,” Clark says.

Antibiotics, the typical treatment for tonsillitis caused by bacterial infections, are not recommended in these cases, however, unless someone is experiencing symptoms of tonsillitis.

 

Tonsillitis Is Contagious Because the Infections That Cause It Are Contagious

Whether tonsillitis has been caused by a virus or bacteria, it can easily spread from person to person (because such infections are contagious). This is more likely when someone has an active infection, Clark says. “Good hygiene is the best strategy to try to avoid tonsillitis,” he says.

Tonsillitis caused by a bacterial infection, such as Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus, the same bacteria that causes strep throat), is highly contagious. People with strep spread the bacteria by coughing and sneezing, which sends tiny droplets through the air that contain the bacteria.

The infection can then be spread by any of the following ways:

§ Breathing in the droplets

§ Touching something that’s been contaminated with the droplets, then touching your mouth or nose

§ Drinking or sharing food with a person who has strep

§ Touching sores on the skin caused by group A strep (impetigo)

Bacterial and viral infections are passed from person to person in essentially the same ways.

 

In what way to Get Rid of Tonsillitis in 4 hours?

In order to get rid of tonsillitis in 4 hours, you need to undergo a tonsillectomy. The surgical removal of tonsils is known as tonsillectomy. Tonsillectomy is the most effective and fastest way of getting rid of tonsillitis.

The reason being that this reduces the chances of recurrence of tonsillitis to almost zero.

Moreover, tonsillectomy is an outpatient procedure that takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete. The individual may recover within 2-5 days of undergoing surgery. During the recovery period, it is advised to drink plenty of fluids and eat lots of cold foods.

 

By what method Adults Can Get Relief from Tonsillitis in 4 Hours?

Some viral infections that cause tonsillitis may cure on their own.

However, when the pain in the throat becomes unbearable due to tonsillitis, then you can simply take medications like Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) which can help soothe out symptoms such as pain and inflammation.

After proper consultation with the doctor, taking pain-killers and medicines is the fastest way to get relief from the sore throat caused due to tonsillitis.

However, this is not effective as the infection can occur again once the medicines are stopped.

In addition to this, medicines can also have side effects. Try certain home remedies that can help you get relief from the symptoms instantaneously

 

Read: Simply ways on How to Cure Tonsillitis in 4 Hours (Fast & Easy)

Home Remedies That Can Help Cure Tonsillitis Fast

1. Take enough rest: Rest can make your child forget about the pain while healing the ailment more efficiently. Ask your child to get plenty of sleep to recover from the infected tonsils.

2. Drink plenty of fluids: Water makes 75% of our total body fluids and dehydration during tonsillitis can worsen the symptoms of tonsillitis. Consume plenty of water to keep your throat moist and lubricated all the time.

3. Avoid hard foods: Avoid consuming hard and crunchy foods as they can irritate the throat. Eat foods that soothe your throat like having warm liquids, tea, warm water with honey, soups. You can also eat cold treats like ice popsicles, ice cream, smoothies that can soothe a sore throat.

4. Gargle with saltwater: Saltwater gargle can provide immediate relief from tonsillitis. It has been found that salt particles can shrink the inflamed cells by draining water through osmosis. If the tonsillitis pain troubles you, try gargling with saltwater solution and then spit it out after a few minutes.

5. Humidify the air: When suffering from tonsillitis, inhaling dry air may further irritate the sore throat. In such cases, a cool air humidifier can eliminate the dry air present in the room and provide immediate relief from the problem. You can also choose to sit for an hour or two in a steamy bathroom.

6. Take Medicated Lozenges: Various medicated throat lozenges are available which not only helps to fight off infection but also reduces the swelling and inflammation. Lozenges have the benefit to provide instant relief by directly acting at the site of the inflammation.

7. Avoid irritants: Avoid exposure to irritants like cigarette smoke, pollution, and various house cleaning products. These irritants can worsen the symptoms of tonsillitis and eventually, lead to complications.

8. Take Warm: Tea with Honey For instantaneous relief from a sore throat, take a warm cup of tea with some honey. The honey has antibacterial properties that can even cure the infection in the tonsils. Moreover, Ginger tea can also help in providing relief from sore throat.

9. Use Throat: Sprays Throat sprays with antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anesthetic effects can provide instant relief from tonsillitis in adults.

10. Do not put extra strain on the voice: Irritation and soreness in the throat can make talking difficult for a tonsillitis patient. Speaking with strain can make the irritation worse. Hence, give rest to the voice as much as possible.

When Should You Go See Your Doctor for Tonsillitis

Certain symptoms indicate that you may need to see your doctor for treatment. Certain types of bacterial infections that can affect the tonsils, like strep throat, require prescription antibiotics for treatment.

You should make an appointment to see your doctor if you experience a combination of the following symptoms:

· Fever

· Persistent sore or scratchy throat that doesn’t go away within 24 to 48 hours

· Painful swallowing, or difficulty swallowing

· Fatigue

· Fussiness in infants and young children

· Swollen lymph nodes

These symptoms may indicate a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics.